Former Atheist Philosopher who came to accept Intelligent Design

Thus, it came as shock to some of his humanist friends when in 2004, he confessed to a change of mind concerning God. He announced in a video entitled Has Science Discovered God? that aspects of biological order, especially in DNA, had led him to believe in intelligent design after all. Commentators seized on this, but the revelation was less dramatic than it appeared. He still disbelieved in revealed religion and immortality. He did, however, express concern about the damage his writings on the subject could have done.

... that's kind of a bombshell to give as an aside like that. Did he suffer a mild stroke and then start ranting about ID? Did he retract the statement a few months later, telling his friend it was a joke?